Abstract: A process is disclosed for recovering fresh water from brine which includes introducing brine, which has been inoculated with a predetermined number of ice nuclei and is at about its freezing temperature, into an elongated crystal growth zone which is supplied with refrigerant along the brine flow path at a graduated rate such that more refrigerant is supplied toward the outlet of the crystal growth zone than near the inlet. Ice crystals are separated from the resulting brine-ice slurry, and the ice crystals are washed with fresh water before being melted to recover fresh water.